Football

CAREER: Talented, veteran linebacker has impacted the Irish defense as well as special teams during career ... hard-hitting inside linebacker has played in 30 career games at Notre Dame and started four contests ... tallied 41 tackles and a pass breakup ... recorded only career touchdown after returning a blocked punt for a score vs. Navy in 2008 ... enjoyed strong practices in spring `09 and will be serious contender to start at middle linebacker.

2008 (JUNIOR): Played in 10 games for the Irish (did not play vs. San Diego State, Michigan State, or Stanford) and started twice (vs. Syracuse and USC) ... saw action at linebacker and on special teams ... totaled 18 tackles, recovered a fumble and recorded a pass break-up ... filled in for an injured Brian Smith and had a career day against Navy, totaling 10 tackles (seven solos, three assist) ... also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the win over the Midshipmen ... the punt return for a touchdown was the first for the Irish since the 2005 meeting with Michigan State ... made his third career start vs. Syracuse and recorded three tackles (all assists) and added a fumble recovery, returning it eight yards before pitching it to cornerback Gary Gray who returned it another 20 yards to set up a first and goal scoring opportunity ... registered three tackles (two solos, assist) in second start of the year (fourth of career) vs. USC ... added a pass breakup in regular season finale vs. the Trojans ... logged 77:07 of playing time with 64 special-teams appearances.

2007 (SOPHOMORE): Appeared in 11 games (did not play vs. Navy) and started the first two games of his Irish career (at Penn State and at UCLA) ... served as top backup to Joe Brockington and Maurice Crum Jr. for much of the year ... registered 14 tackles on the season with 0.5 tackle for loss ... split time vs. Georgia Tech with Joe Brockington at inside linebacker ... finished with one assisted tackle ... had four tackles (two solo, two assist) vs. Michigan State ... recorded three tackles (two solo, one assist) vs. UCLA ... made one tackle for a loss of two yards vs. the Bruins ... had three assisted tackles vs. Boston College ... logged 77:37 of playing time with 23 special-teams appearances.

2006 (FRESHMAN): Powerful and instinctive linebacker who played in nine games as a freshman on both special teams and as a reserve linebacker ... recorded nine tackles, including six solos, and logged 25:07 minutes and four special-teams appearances.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Graduated from Rome High School in Rome, Ga. ... second-team linebacker on USA Today prep All-America team for 2005 ... first-team linebacker on Atlanta Journal-Constitution Georgia Class AAAA all-state team ... one of 12 linebackers on Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100 team ... had 117 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and three interceptions as senior in '05 ... made 112 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three interceptions as junior in 2004 ... father Charles (a current assistant football coach at Rome High School) played football at Georgia for former Irish assistant coach Bill Lewis, then a Bulldog assistant ... born Sept. 14, 1987 ... son of Charles and Regina Smith ... high school coach was Sid Fritts ... enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, double-majoring in sociology and computer applications.